A rewarding, hands-on progression opportunity for staff working with young children during their early developmental stages.

As an apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience, learn new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

Wage

• £15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• Minimum Apprenticeship Wage: £8 an hour. Wage to be agreed with school.

Training course

• Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

• Monday to Friday (exact hours TBC) 37.5 hour a week
• 37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

• Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

• 1 year 6 months

Positions available

• 1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Working as part of an Early Years Team, you will help plan and deliver activities set by the Government for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 years old.

Through the programme, you’ll prepare for a more senior EYFS role and gain the skills to help promote an inclusive environment including:

• Learning and development in infants and young children, including the significance of attachment, and the role and responsibilities of a key person
• Explore attachment theories and philosophical approaches and how they are linked to early childhood learning
• The importance of holistic development and an understanding of the EYFS and non-statutory guidance to plan, observe and assess in all areas of the Early Years Curriculum
• How to work cooperatively with parents/carers, colleagues, and other professionals to enhance babies’ and young children’s learning
• Gain opportunities to share good practice and ideas with apprentices from other EYFS settings

Where you'll work

• Wisden Road
• Stevenage
• SG1 5JD

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

• SPORTING FUTURES TRAINING (UK) LTD

Training course

• Early years educator (level 3)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
• Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
• Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
• Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
• Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
• Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
• Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
• Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
• Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
• Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
• Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
• Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
• Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
• Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
• Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
• Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
• Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
• Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
• Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
• Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
• Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.